Health Workforce Retraining Initiative

New York State Departments of Health and Labor

The New York State Departments of Health and Labor have announced that funding is available under the Health Workforce Retraining Initiative for projects to train or retrain health industry workers to obtain positions in occupations with documented shortages of workers and provide employment for health industry workers who need new skills due to changes in the health care system.
ELIGIBILITY:  General hospitals; long-term care facilities; other health care facilities; health worker unions; labor-management committees; health care facility trade associations; joint labor-management training funds established pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Taft-Hartley Act; and educational institutions.
FUNDING:  Up to $56 million will be available and distributed competitively on a regional basis.
DEADLINE:   Applications are due no later than 5:00 p.m. on September 8, 2006.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Copies of the Request for Applications may be obtained by visiting www.health.state.ny.us/funding/rfa/0605231220/. Questions may also be directed to Barry Gray, Director of Workforce Development, Division of Planning, Policy and Resource Development, New York State Department of Health, Corning Tower, Room 1084, Albany, New York 12237-0053; phone (518) 473-4700.

State Adult Literacy and Basic Adult Education Programs

New York State Education Department

The New York State Education Department has announced the availability of funding for two programs: the Welfare Education Program, which provides funding to school districts and boards of cooperative educational services to operate adult basic education and literacy programs for public assistance recipients at least 16 years of age who are not enrolled in a regular school program and have educational needs associated with poverty; and the Adult Literacy Education program, which provides funding to not-for-profit organizations to operate adult literacy education programs including adult basic education, English for speakers of other languages, and high school equivalency programs.
ELIGIBILITY:  Public school districts, BOCES, literacy volunteer agencies, libraries, institutions of higher education, educational opportunity centers, not-for-profit organizations, and consortiums of the above organizations.
FUNDING:  The minimum award for the Welfare Education Program is $100,000 with a maximum award of $300,000. The minimum award for the Adult Literacy Education program is $100,000.
DEADLINE:   Applications must be postmarked by August 21, 2006.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Visit www.emsc.nysed.gov/funding/stateadultedliteracy0608.htm.

. . . Foundations and Organizations

Quality of Life Grants

Christopher Reeve Foundation

The Christopher Reeve Foundation offers grants to nonprofit organizations working to address the needs of persons living with paralysis (particularly spinal cord injury), their families, and caregivers. Funding is awarded in thirteen categories: accessibility, advocacy, arts, assistive technology, children, counseling, education, employment, health promotion, independent living, practical service, sports and recreation, and therapeutic riding. Except for the health promotion category, the primary focus is paralysis caused by spinal cord injuries. The health promotion category provides funding to address paralysis caused by spinal-cord injuries and/or other injuries, diseases, and birth conditions.
ELIGIBILITY:  Nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status. The foundation does not make grants to individuals.
FUNDING:  Grants are in amounts of up to $25,000.
DEADLINE:  September 1 and March 1 annually.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Visit www.christopherreeve.org.

Funding for Charities Serving Women and Children

Women Helping Others

The WHO (Women Helping Others) Foundation supports grassroots charities around the country serving the overlooked needs of women and children. Specific projects and programs addressing health, education, and social service needs are the foundation’s priority. The foundation recognizes the value of new programs created to respond to changing needs and will consider funding projects of an original or pioneering nature within an existing organization.
ELIGIBILITY:   Organizations must have 501(c)(3) nonprofit status and be qualified to receive deductible charitable contributions. In addition, organizations must have been incorporated for a minimum of three years prior to application. Preference will be given to organizations with an operating budget of $3 million or less, those not dependent on government grants, and those with greater organizational program costs than personnel costs. Also, WHO requests that previous award recipients wait three years before applying again. Individuals, educational institutions, and religious organizations are not eligible. Please see WHO's web site for complete eligibility criteria.
FUNDING:   Contact WHO for specific funding details.
DEADLINE:  September 12, 2006.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Visit www.whofoundation.org.

Youth Empowerment Grants

Public Welfare Foundation

The Public Welfare Foundation supports organizations that address human needs in disadvantaged communities, with strong emphasis on organizations that include service, advocacy and empowerment in their approach: service that remedies specific problems; advocacy that addresses those problems in a systemic way through changes in public policy; and strategies to empower people in need to play lead roles in achieving those policy changes and in remedying specific problems. The Foundation provides general support and project-specific grants.
ELIGIBILITY:  Public and private entities, including nonprofit organizations and for-profit organizations.
FUNDING:  Maximum award is $50,000.
DEADLINE:  Open.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Visit www.publicwelfare.org/news/news/fund_2006.asp.

Grants to Improve the Health of New Yorkers

New York State Health Foundation

The New York State Health Foundation's mission is to 1) expand health insurance coverage to state residents who cannot afford to purchase their own coverage or whose coverage is inadequate; 2) increase access to high-quality health care services for underserved people; and 3) improve public and community health by educating New Yorkers about health issues and empowering communities to address them. The Foundation is currently seeking proposals for innovative projects that address one or more of the three elements of their mission. Grants made under this request will be one-time awards.
ELIGIBILITY:  The Foundation will consider proposals from existing nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status and from for-profit organizations. Applicant organizations must have a significant presence in New York state and show that their proposed projects further the charitable mission of the New York State Health Foundation.
FUNDING:  The Foundation will allocate up to $5 million to support these projects, and expects to award approximately 20 grants in the range of $50,000 to $150,000 each and three to five grants of between $150,000 and $1 million.
DEADLINE:  Applications must be received by September 15, 2006.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:   Visit the New York State Health Foundation's web site, www.NYSHealth.org, for further details on the program and the application process. Inquries may be sent to proposals@NYSHealth.org.

Grants for Mental Illness Public Education and Outreach

American Psychiatric Foundation

The American Psychiatric Foundation is making grants available to fund new and innovative public education, information and outreach initiatives that promote public awareness of mental illness, the effectiveness of treatment, and the importance of early intervention.
ELIGIBILITY:  To be eligible, organizations must have been in existence for at least two years and be tax exempt under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. American Psychiatric Association district branches/state agencies are also eligible. Organizations need not be mental health programs. Grants may be sought for new initiatives or the expansion of current programs. Requests must be for educational, informational, or outreach efforts targeting the public. Efforts may focus on a specific mental disorder, mental illness in general, or target a specific population.
FUNDING:  Total grant funds will be up to $750,000 over the course of three years.
DEADLINE:  September 1, 2006.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Visit www.psychfoundation.org.

Graffiti Hurts National Award

Graffiti Hurts

The Graffiti Hurts National Award helps to recognize and honor programs that are bringing innovation and best practices to erase graffiti vandalism. The three award categories are: communities under 300,000 populations; communities over 300,000 population; and Paint Brush Mural. The latter category is for eligible groups with projects using one or more paint brush murals to successfully prevent graffiti or respond to persistent graffiti.
ELIGIBILITY:  Nonprofit, civic, and community organizations, including neighborhood groups, crime prevention associations, civic clubs and organizations; youth groups/schools, such as Girl/Boy Scouts, 4-H, Girls/Boys Clubs, YW/YMCAs, and students in a class, grade or school club; government agencies including police departments, and city, county, state and federal government agencies, and subdivisions within these agencies; and business and professional organizations, including small and large businesses, corporations and professional organizations.
FUNDING:  Winners receive a cash award of up to $1,000, plus additional prizes valued at up to $5,000.
DEADLINE:  September 15, 2006.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Visit http://graffitihurts.org/awards/about.cfm.

. . . Grant Writing

Grantsmanship Center

The Grantsmanship Training Program is coming to New York: Oriskany (Utica area), September 25-29, hosted by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County; Buffalo, October 16-20, hosted by Junior League of Buffalo; and Troy, November 6-10, hosted by Commission on Economic Opportunity for the Greater Capital Region.

The classes will be conducted by The Grantsmanship Center and are kept at a maximum of 30 participants. The cost is $825, which includes one-year enrollment in the TGCI Membership Program. A limited number of half-tuition scholarships are available to agencies with annual budgets of less than $300,000.

To register or to apply for a scholarship, contact TGCI at (800) 421-9512 or visit www.tgci.com.

PLEASE NOTE

Correspondence received by the Grants Action News electronically or via the postal service between August 18 and September 4 will be answered beginning September 5.